Why Finding the Right College Fit Matters (Especially for Student-Athletes) When I was deciding where to go to college (back in the “olden days” of 1996), living in California made the process feel pretty straightforward. I applied to a range of California State University and University of California schools and called it a day. College consultants weren’t really a thing back then—or at least, not in my world—so I did most of the research on my own. My freshman year dorm, Bi

Name: Triniti Shaffer Year in School: Freshman (class of 2029) Major: Criminology Years Playing Rugby: 4 1/2 years Position in Rugby: Fly half/wing    Why did you choose your school?  St. Bonaventure has a wonderful program that supports my academic goals and an excellent rugby culture that allows me to compete at a higher level. The criminology program especially stood out to me because it goes beyond textbooks and lectures, giving me the opportunity to gain real-world insig

Ready to take your recruiting journey to the next level? In this College Rugby 102  presentation, we go beyond the basics and break down exactly what you need to stand out to college coaches. This video is the perfect follow-up to College Rugby 101 , giving you deeper insight into the tools and strategies that actually get you noticed. You’ll learn: How to navigate recruit questionnaires What makes a highlight film  stand out Key recruiting timelines  you need to know Insider

University of Arizona$ Arizona State$ Augustana College$ (Presidential Scholarship)* Bates College Baylor University Boise State University Boston University$ Brown University** (1 NCAA Recruit) Bucknell University University of California, Berkeley (Cal) University of California, Davis University of California, Irvine University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) University of California, Riverside University of California, San Diego# University of California, Santa Barbara U

Who wouldn't want to work at Wimbledon?! (Picture taken by me at Wimbledon, 2002) One activity I often recommend students add to their high school experience is to intern in an academic area that they are interested in pursuing in college. Of course, the first response is always, "Well, how am I going to do that?" If you remember one thing, make it this: the first step to getting an internship is simply asking. Not experience. Not connections. Just asking. Why It Matters Most

It’s the beginning of a new semester, and now is the perfect time to reflect on what went well this last semester and what you can improve on. Here are critical items students in each grade level should follow through on: Grade 9 & 10 – Now is the perfect time to think about Improving your Grades , adding more challenging courses next year, and ensuring active participation on your high school campus. Check out all the clubs available at your school and sign up now. The ear

void the most common rugby resume mistakes. These 6 tips help high school rugby players build a college recruiting resume that gets coaches to respond.

Name:  Caitlyn Reese Year in School:  Freshman Major:  Sports Management Years Playing Rugby:  3 ½ years Position in Rugby:  Flanker and Center Caitlyn (L) pictured with teammate Why did you choose your school? I chose Guilford for two reasons. First, Coach Newcomb was incredibly welcoming and followed through on everything she said she would do. In my opinion, that’s the best quality a coach can have. Second, the campus and its liveliness really drew me in. It’s so green and

In 2002, I would have told you my future career was in sports television production One of the most common questions students get asked, and you can imagine, at 17 years old, choosing a college major can feel huge . Like, “this decision will define the rest of my life,” huge. Between family expectations, social pressure, and that classic question—“So what are you gonna do with that?”—it’s easy to feel like you’re supposed to have everything figured out right now. The truth is

Photo Credit: Rob Rasmussen for Quinnipiac Athletics “From the beginning, Karen helped us get comfortable with the process and encouraged our student to explore all of her options. Karen was very knowledgeable and organized, and always responsive to our student when issues popped up along the way.”  Christine Staberg, mother of Delilah Quinnipiac University, NCAA Recruit, Class of 2029

Name: Jake Schumacher Year in School: Sophomore   Major: Business Management/ Real Estate  Years Playing Rugby: 7 years  Position in Rugby: Wing  Why did you choose your school? I chose the University of Arizona because it offered the ideal balance between athletics and academics. Arizona has a highly competitive rugby environment that allows me to continue developing at the highest collegiate level in the U.S., while also providing strong institutional support for student-at

Name: Cori Recktenwald Year in School: Sophomore Major: English Years Playing Rugby: 4 Position in Rugby: Hooker and flanker     Why did you choose your school? Alfred’s small size, proximity to home, and generous financial aid offer (as well as its rugby team) were the main reasons I chose to come here. The small size of the university was an especially important factor for me; all the professors here are interested in getting to know their students as individuals and helpin

Name: Landen Day Year in School: Sophomore Major: Mechanical Engineering Years Playing Rugby: 3 Position in Rugby: Prop/Loose Forward   Why did you choose your school? I chose the University of South Carolina because it felt like the best overall fit for me, academically, socially, and personally. After visiting several schools and growing up in Charleston, UofSC stood out among them all. Every time I visited campus, I felt welcomed and excited to be there, and it quickly bec

Top rugby players are often praised for their great “field vision” or ability to look at their opposition and put together runs and passes that make it seem like their defenders aren’t even there. Even exceptionally gifted rugby players must work hard to build the peripheral vision that makes this possible, helping them identify defenders or support players in the corners of their eyes. Strong peripheral awareness helps players quickly assess what is happening around them, so

Time Management can be a struggle for everyone – especially collegiate athletes with a FULL class schedule, practices to attend, homework, social life etc. Our friends at Hall Wellness & Sports Consultants have an awesome tool to help you maximize your time and become a better student-athlete! How can this Match Week Planning Tool help? Gain Better Clarity throughout the week and in the lead-up to a game (which we all want!) Good for Scheduling Skills, Extras & Fitness top u

There’s no avoiding the fact that the college landscape has become very competitive, so students who are shooting for selective schools must use their summers to their advantage. While it can be tempting to have a lazy summer doing absolutely nothing but catch up on mind-numbing TV, you might want to think about keeping your brain working throughout the summer months. There are a multitude of options available, but here are a few of my top choices: Taking a summer course at y

Name: Lilian Lu Major: Computer Security Information Assurance/ Concentration Digital Forensics Years Playing Rugby: 1 year Position in Rugby: Scrum-half   Why did you choose your school? Norwich University’s rich legacy as the oldest military college is the birthplace of the country's inaugural ROTC program, and it was the deciding factor in what I wished to pioneer in my career. Pursuing a college experience while building a disciplined lifestyle was the best way I could pr

When the weather outside is frightful, staying curled up with a book is just so delightful! Here are some top books you should read before college. There is no better way to increase your vocabulary ( read: help increase those test scores! ) as well as give you some good fodder to discuss in upcoming application essays and interviews ( juniors especially! ). Note: for anyone who says, “I don’t have time to read,” audiobooks are my preferred method these days of “reading” book

If you’re starting your college exploration phase now (highly recommended for Grades 9 & 10 graders, and especially critical for Grade 11 students), you may be overwhelmed with the process of planning visits. Either based on your schedule or budget, visiting all the campuses you are interested in just may not happen! But have no fear! One of the pandemic's silver linings is that all colleges and universities have created robust virtual visit options. From live tour options (w